Automobile signal switch



Nav. 19, 1935. J. A. RUSSELL UTOIOBILE SIGNAL SWITCH v @d www 1 ma z g by Filed April 5, 1935 w M.. um

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 gUNITED kSTATES ,PATENT oFFicE i'lf Application .anni s. 1933, serial Nq. 664.107

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the signal may be given considerably in advance o of the time of the lxnovernentfsignalled and in which limited preparatory movement of theovehicle may be accomplished without ailectin'g the signal given; to provide an arrangement in which the driver of .the vehicle will be given positive warning in the event that the signal fails to op-v erate; to provide a device of the class described which is comparatively simple in construction c and hence low in cost and which will be durable and free from delicate parts which are apt to become deranged; to provide a device ofl the class described which will be adaptable to most, if not all, of the standard vehicles now on the market; and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide an improved electric signal controlling device of the class described. e

Other objects and advantages will be under'- stood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated an electric signal controlling device applicable to an automobile steering wheel. In the drawing- ,Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation; n Fig. 2 is a bottom plan showing the mechanism,v of the interior of a housing portion which is associated with the steering wheel;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the device substantially of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. iis av plan of the mechanism contained by a lower housing section' which is" secured to the steering post or column, a wiring diagram being also incorporated in this figure; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of the device as illustrated in Fig. l; and Y c Fig. 6 is a sectionon the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Referring now to the drawing, I have illustrated a steering wheel l0 at the top oi' a steero ling post or column Il, these parts corresponding or representing the steering wheelcud post of any conventional automobile. The steering wheel III is connected by means ol spokes i2 to a hub I3 (Cl. 2130-49)l which has aconventional connection to a rod within the column il. Other suitable devices, such as a. horn button Il, may be mounted in or on the hub oi the wheel.

The mechanism o! the present invention in- 5 cludes a housing comprising upper and lower sections I3 and I6 respectively. The lower section I6 is'provlded with a `depending collar I1 which is arranged to be clamped to the steering post il through the agency of bolts I3, as willbe 1o readily understood by those skilled in they art.` The housing I6 maybe made of metal or other materialV aiordlng the desiredv strength and it incloses an 4insulating material member I9 which, in'this instance, is seated on an annular shoulder l5 20 formed in the sidewall '2i of the housing. If desired, the insulating material member I9 may be secured in place by means oi' screws such as 22 which project through the side flange 2| and threadedly engage'suitable tapped openings m20 the insulating 'material member.

An annular contact member A23 is seated in the insulating material member I9 and it may be held in place' by the desired number of screws, such as indicated at 24, and by al connecting 25 screw or binding post 25 which facilitates" the connection of an electric conductor 26 to the described contact ring. `A pair of contact segments 21" and 23 are also seated in the insulating material member i9, these segments being approximately semi-circles, as best shown in Fig. 4, and being relatively insulated. These segments may i be secured in place in the insulating material member I3 by means-oi suitable screws, as describedin connection with the annular member 23 and they may also be provided with binding posts such as 25 for facilitating the connection thereof to electric conductors 29 and 30. The conductor 26 connects the annular contact member 23 to one post o! a'storagebattery or other source of electric power such as indicated at 3i (see'r'ig. 4). The conductors 2s and so connect the contact segments 2l and 23 to left and right turn electric lamp signals 32 and 33 respectively. The oth'erfside'of the battery 3| or other source of power is connected to the other terminals olr the v'elements 32 and 33 by suitable conductors or by being" groundedin'the metal frame work,

" of the vehicle, as indicated. It will thus be apparent that the signal lights 32 and 33' may be 50 energized by electrically connecting the segments 21 and 23 respectively to the annular contact member 23.` The wires 23; 23 rand 30 mayconveniently be guided out o! the housing member I3 through a suitable conduit 34 which enters the 55 housing I6 and which may be suitably clamped in fixed position to the steering column II.

The mechanism tor connecting the contact segments 21 and 28 to the annular contact member 23 is carried in the upper housing section I5. This mechanism includes an annular member 35 which is pivoted on pivot pins 36, 36 (see Fig. 2). As shown, the pivot pins 36 extend through the outer flange 31 of the upper housing I5, through diametrically opposed portions of the ring 35 and ihreadedly engage an inner flange 38 of the upper housing section. Spacers 39 are provided on the pivot pins intermediate the inner flange 38 and the ring 35 to maintain the ring in substantially concentric relation with the upper housing section. At diametrically opposed points, the ring 35, which may be termed a teeter-tottery is provided with contact devices which are adapted to connect the contact segments 21 and 28 respectively and the annular contact member 23.

Each of the contact devices mounted on the teeter-totter 35 consists of an inner member 40 and an outer member 4I. The members 40 and 4I are formed of metal, preferably brass or copper, and they include flange portions 42 by means of which they are secured to the annular member 35. As shown, the flanged portions of the inner member 40 are bent to fit the inside of the ring 35 and the flanged portions of the outer member 4I are bent to t the outside of the member 35. Insulating material pieces 43, 43 are interposed between the ange portions of the members i0 and 4I and connecting screws or bolts 44, 44 extend through the flanges and ring 35 to securely unite the parts. An insulating material sleeve 45 serves to insulate the bolt 44 from both of the contact members 40 and 4| and from the ring 35. Suitable insulating material washers are also interposed between the heads or nuts of the bolts 44 to cause one of them to be insulated from the outer member and the other to be insulated from the inner member.

Each of the members 40 and 4I includes a spring-pressed plunger such as 46, which is axially slidable in a hollowA member 41. A spring 48 interposed between the back of the plunger 4G and the end wall of the member 41 serves to yieldingly urge the member 46 outwardly.

The contact elements 46 at each side of the ring 35 are so arranged that they are in alignment with the segment 21 and ring 23 and segment 28 and ring 23 respectively. When the ring 35 is rocked on its pivot to cause either set of contact plungers 46 to engage the respective contact segments and ring, electrical connection will accordingly be completed to energize the signal lamps. For manipulating the teetertotter 35, the following push button arrangement is provided:

At each side of the upper housing section I5 there is a push button 48, each push button including a stem portion 50 which is axially slidable through a suitable opening in the top wall of the upper housing section. In this instance, the stems 50 are shown as slidable in a suitable bushing 5I which reduces friction and serves to facilitate easy operation of the device. The stems 50 are, in this instance, in the form of sockets for electric lamps 52 of low candle-power. The lamps 52 are of the bayonet attachment 'type and have double contact bases. Contact elements for engaging the contacts of the lamp base are carried by an insulating material plug (see Fig. 6).

53 suitably mounted in the stem or sleeve 60. Conductors in the form of insulated wires 64 connect the respective contacts oi' the plug 63 with the inner and outer contact elements 46 and 4I, so that when the elements 40 and 4I 6 are connected to the respective segments 21 and 28 and the annular member 23, current will now,

as indicated in the diagram of Fig. 4, through the electric lamp 62. A cover 65 is suitably mounted on the lamp socket 50 and is provided 10 with a jewel 56 through which the light from. the lamp 52 .will be visible when connection is established.

The lamps 32 and 33 are preferably of high candle-power so as to brightly illuminate the 15 respective signals and, as stated, the lamp 52 is of low candle-power. In order to cause a majority of the electric current to flow to the high candle-power lamps 32 and 33, an'd to avoid extra bright lighting of the small lamps 52, a w shunt 56 is connected across the terminals to which the lamp 52 is connected. The shunt 56 may be oi any suitable form but in this instance, it is indicated as being inclosed in a glass tube 51 having metal end caps 58 which are provided 25 with pig-tails connected to the respective terminals mentioned. The shunt proper may be oi any suitable resistance wire extending through the glass tube 51 and connected at its ends to the metal caps 58. 60

The inner ends of the socket sleeves 50 are connected to the rocking ring 35 so as to prevent rotation of the socket and so as to permit limited relative movement of the ring 35 and socket as an incident to the rocking movement 35 of the ring. In this instance, the connection is effected by slotting the socket, as indicated at 59, at a point spaced upwardly from its lower end. A lip or ear 66 is connected to the ring 35 and is adapted to project into the slot 59 so that 40 the socket and ring are positively connected so as to prevent separation thereof. To relieve the slotted portion of the socket of some of the strain incident to adjustment of the ring 35, a second lip 6I may be provided to t under the inner end 45 of the socket or in a recessed seat 62, as indicated. It will be readily understood that by reason of the lips 60 and GI tting into the slot and recesses 59 and 62 respectively in the socket end, the socket will be held against rotation, 50 thereby preventing twisting oi the conductors 54,

54 and consequent damage thereto.

It will be apparent that in the event that a right turn is to be made, the button 49 on the right-hand side of the steering wheel center may 55 be depressed to complete a circuit to the rightturn indicator 33. To maintain the circuit so made, the ring 35 is provided with a member 63 having a series of three notches 64, 65 and 63 As shown in Fig. 2. the member 63 50 is xedly secured to the ring. The member 63 coacts with the spring-pressed plunger 61 carried by a socket 68 which is tlxedly mounted on the outer flange 31of the upper housing section I5, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. When the 6,; plunger 61 engages the notch 65, the ring is maintained in neutral position, i. e., neither signal light is energized. The upper notch 64 maintains the ring in position with the left-hand contacts engaged to energize the left-turn signal 32 70 and the notch 66, when engaged by the plunger 61, serves to retain the ring in tilted position with the right-hand contacts engaged to energize the right-turn signal 33.

It will be understood that the contact ele- 75 ments III and 4I are so located that when thevehicle is being driven in a normally straight course, the contacts I and Il overlie approximately a central point between the ends o! the respective segments 21 and 2l. Hence, when either push button is depressed, the wheel and upper housing section I may be turned nearly 90 before the upper contact elements leave .the respective contact segments 21 and 2li. This degree of turning permits an initial manipulation of the vehicle to proper position for making the right or left turn without prematurely deener-k gizing the signal light. When the indicated turn is being made, the steering wheel and upper housing section I5 are normally turned through an angle considerably in excess o! 90 but practically no turn such a's would be called a right or left turn is made for steering until the steering wheel has been turned through an angle oi' more than 90. When the turn is well under way, i. e., when the steering wheel has been turned approximately 90, the signal light may be deenerglzed. This may be done manually by either pulling up on the button which was initially depressed or by f pressing the opposite button downwardly-to restore the neutral position oi' the ring 35. Preferably, however, automatic means is provided for restoring the contact elements to neutral position. In this instance, such automatic meansincludes cam inserts 69 which are adapted to engage humps formed on the bottom vedge of the rocking ring 35 between the contact plungers 46, 46. It will be understood that when the humps 10 of the ring l! engage the cams 69,

the ring will be adjusted upwardly to neutral po-sition. l

It will be observed that the described arrangement requires a reasonably accurate positioning of the mechanism carried by the upper housing section i5 with yrespect to the contact elements and cam segments carried by the lower housing section. Such positioning is conveniently accomplished by providing a seat 1 I, recessed in this instance, in the insulating material element I9 of the lower housing section, said seat being adapted to receive the lower kend of the inner flange 38 of the upper housing section (see Fig. 3). It will, of course, be understood that positioning of the mechanism within the upper housing sectio-n may be controlled by the position of the pivot 36 and hence that the relationship between the contact elements and rthe end of the flange 3B may be readily determined in accordance with the requirements. It will also be noted that the mechanism disclosed is entirely inclosed in an annular housing which surrounds the steering post, so that themechanism is maintained comparatively free from the effects of dirt and moisture.

f At the present time, most vehicles are equipped with a steering wheel having either three or four spokes connecting the hub of the wheel with the rim. In order to facilitate the use of my signal mechanism with either type oi' wheel, I provide the following arrangement for anchoring the upper housing section to the wheel for rotation therewith:

A U-shaped bracket 12, which is adapted to embrace'one of the spokes i2 of the wheel, is suitably bolted to the top wall of the upper housing section. 'I'he upper housing section may conveniently be provided with two openings, one of which receives the U-bracket bolt and the other f of which is normally closed by means of a screw plug, as indicated at 13. When a three-spoke wheel is used, the' arrangement will appear as shown in full lines in Fig. 5. When a four-spoke wheel is used, the :our spokes will be positioned substantially as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

It will be observed that in either event, the push 5 buttons 49, 49 will be located at diametrically opposite points in a substantially horizontal line, thereby providing for the describedlimited initial turning movement of the wheel without aiiecting the signal lights when energized. l0

Other changes and modications inthe mechanism may be made without departing from the spirit o! vthe invention, the scope oi' which is to be determined'by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as l5 possible consistent' with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In an automobile signalling device, a steering wheel and a steering column,ahousingcomprising f upper and lower sections, the upper section being connected to the steering wheel so as to be rotatable therewith and the lower section being xedly mounted on thesteering columna plurality of relatively insulated, stationary contact elements carried by said stationary housing section, an annular member pivotally mounted in said upper section for rocking movement on an axis extending transversely of the steering column axis, a pair of contact elements mounted. on said annular member and respectively on opposite sides of the pivot thereof for movement' towards and fromv said stationary contacts for making and breaking an electric circuit, a pair oi' push buttons connected respectively to 'portions of said annular member on opposite sides of its pivot axis and projecting from the top of said upper housing section for facilitating movement of said annular member selectively to eiect en gagemcnt of the respective movable contact elements with said` stationary contact elements, 40 yielding means for retaining said contact elements in adjusted position, and means for automatically restoring said member to normal position to thereby disengage said contact elements.

2. In an automob.le signalling device. a steering wheel and a steering column, a two-part housing comprising an upper section connected to thesteering wheel for rotation therewith, and a lower section fixedly mounted on said steering column, interengaging means carried by said upper and lower `buttons slidably mounted in said upper housing section, having their lower ends engaging a portion of said annular member and provided with a slot spaced upwardly from their lower ends, a lip extending from said annular member into 05 said slot for preventing separation of the push buttons from the annular member, said lip also preventing rotation of the push button relative to the annular member.

3. In an automobile signalling device, a steering wheel and a steering column, a housing comprising upper and lower sections, the upper section being connected to the steering wheel so as to be rotatable therewith and the lower section being tlxedly mounted on the steering column, a

plurality of relatively insulated, stationary contact members carried by said xed housing section, a member disposed within and pivotally mounted in said upper housing section for rocking movement about an axis extending transversely of the axis of the steering wheel, contact elements carried by said member on opposite sides of its pivot for electrically connecting certain of said contact members, manually operable means for selectively moving said pivoted member to thereby move either of said contact elements into circuit making position relative to said stationary contact members, said manually operable means comprising push buttons extending through the top of said upper housing section and having their lower ends engaging a portion of said pivoted member and provided with slots spaced upwardly from their lower ends, and lips extending from said pivoted member into said slots for preventing separation of the push buttons from the pivoted member, said lips also preventing rotation of the push buttons relative to the pivoted member.

4. In an automobile signalling device, a steering column and a steering wheel, a two-part housing comprising upper and lower sections, the upper section being connected to the steering wheel so as to be rotatable therewith and the lower section bang xedly mounted on the steering column, a circular stationary contact member, and a pair of arcuate contact members carried by said lower housing section, said arcuate contact members being arranged in circularly aligned relation to each other and in concentric and radially spaced relation with said circular contact member, a pair of vertically movable contact elements carried by said upper housing section and respectively movable into circuit making and circuit breaking positions relative to one of said arcuate contact members and said circular Contact member, and manually operable means carried`r by said upper housing for selectively moving said movable contact elements.

5. In an automobile signaling device, a steering wheel and a, steering column, a housing comprising upper andlower sections, the upper section being connected to the steering wheel so as to be rotatable therewith and the lower section being xedly mounted cn the steering column, a plurality of relatively insulated normally stationary contact members carried by said fixed housing section, a member disposed within and pivotally mounted in said upper housing section for rocking movement about an axis extending transversely of the axis of the steering wheel, contact elements carried by said member on 0pposite sides of its pivot for electrically connecting certain of said stationary Contact members, said contact elements comprising plungers having recesses in their upper ends, receptacles secured to said pivotal member and vertically slidably receiving said plungers, springs seated in the plunger recess for yieldingly urging the plungers outwardly of the receptacles, and means for limiting such outward movement.

6. In an automobile signalling device, a steering wheel and a steering column, a housing comprising upper and lower sections, the upper section being connected to the steering wheel so as to be rotatable therewith and the lower section being xedly mounted on the steering column, a plurality of relatively insulated stationary contact members carried by said stationary housing section, a member pivotally mounted in said upper section for rocking movement on an axis extending transversely of the steering column axis, a pair of contact elements mounted on said mem.. ber and respectively located on opposite sides of the pivot thereof for movement towards and from said stationary contacts for making and breaking electric circuits, means connected with said member and projecting from said housing for facilitating manual movement of said member selectively to eiect engagement of the respective movable contact elements with said stationary contact members, yielding means for retaining said member in adjusted position, and means for autcmatically restoring said member to normal position to thereby disengage said contact elements and members.

7. In an automobile signalling device, a steering wheel and a steering column, a housing comprising upper and lower sections, the upper section being connected to the steering wheel so as to be rotatable therewith and the lower section being xedly mounted on the steering column, two pairs of relatively insulated stationary contact members carried by said fixed housing section in diametrically opposed relation, a member disposed within and pivotally mounted in said upper housing section for rotation therewith and for rocking movement about an axis extending transversely of and approximately intersecting the axis ot the steering wheel, contact elements carried by said member on opposite sides of its pivot axis for electrically connecting the contacts of the respective pairs of contact members, and manually operable means associated with said pivoted member for selectively moving the same to effect engagement of the respective contact elements and members to complete an electric circuit, said contact elements being engageable selectively but not simultaneously with said contact member pairs, and means for yieldably holding said pivoted member in adjusted position.

JOSEPH ARTHUR RUSSELL. 

